Mayor Rahm Emanuel says the idea came to him while he was swimming: Why not push Chicago as a beer destination?

"You can count your laps while you're swimming, or you noodle on an idea," the mayor said. "I was getting ready for a quarterly tourism meeting, and I'm struck with the idea. You know what? Microbreweries."

Friday the city launched a website (choosechicago.com/craftbeer) intended to drive visitors toward the city's breweries and taprooms. The site has brewery profiles and hotel packages that include a piece of the Chicago beer experience.

We took the opportunity to ask the mayor about his drinking habits. (This is an edited transcript.)

Q: You've lived in Chicago for most of your adult life, which means a long history with Chicago bars, correct?

A: Well, there used to be a time in my life that I had a longer, deeper experience with bars — before three kids — but yes.

Q: What are your favorite bars?

A: Matchbox (770 N. Milwaukee Ave.) is one. Do you know Ten Cat (3931 N. Ashland Ave.)? I like the back room there. Tiny Lounge (4352 N. Leavitt St.). Hopleaf (5148 N. Clark St.). Bad Apple (4300 N. Lincoln Ave.). I like the guys there a lot. There's a couple others, I can't remember their names, but I know where they are — like the one with the blue sign with the moon on it on Roscoe and Wolcott. When you're in a stupor, knowing where a bar is is more important than knowing the name.

Q: I think you mean Four Moon Tavern (1847 W. Roscoe St.).

A: Yes! That's it.

Q: Why those? What do you think are the essential characteristics of a great Chicago bar?

A: Character. I was upset when Tiny Lounge left where it was underneath the "L" on Addison, but I think the new place is great. You can get a great beer and something to eat. And they give you a taste before you make the plunge. Hopleaf is a unique place. Who else carries 400 beers from around the world? It's so overwhelming sometimes that you just have to go with what you know and don't take the risk.

Q: There has been a proliferation of breweries in recent years. I know it's in your best political interest not to play favorites, but I'm asking you to play favorites. What are your go-to Chicago breweries?

A: I love Half Acre. Three Floyds. Revolution. You know Argus? They've been there for a while. I was watching the city's cable channel, and I see this thing about the son who started the brewery, and then his father joined him. I told my wife, Amy, to get their beer if she could find it. I should probably throw Lagunitas in there now too.

Q: What beer is in your fridge at home right now?

A: Half Acre's Daisy Cutter. There's one from Great Lakes — I can see the bottle. It's the one with the flaming lake. I also really like Revolution's Anti-Hero.

Q: Is the Great Lakes beer you're thinking of Burning River?

A: Yes, that's it. For my 50th, Amy — we were living in Washington at the time — we had 10 different microbrews from different trips we've taken: Moose Drool (from Montana). Polygamy Porter (Utah). Whale's Tale (Nantucket). Fat Tire (Colorado).

Q: How do you think the growth of the craft beer and the bar industry has changed Chicago during the last 10 or so years?

A: Microbreweries are exploding across the country but especially here, and it's fitting. The school where you learn the craft part of craft brewing is here (Siebel Institute of Technology), and that was the impetus of my idea: Why don't we start promoting Chicago's bars and breweries? We're a city of neighborhoods, and in every neighborhood you have that local place. And in a lot of those neighborhoods, that's a brewery. It's a way to get our tourists into our neighborhoods and communities.

Q: Ravenswood and Logan Square are both hot for breweries and bars at the moment. What parts of the city do you think are ripe for the next wave of growth?

A: My prediction is Humboldt Park. It has the architecture and the bones of the buildings, and with the 606 Bloomingdale Trail (rails-to-trails elevated park) and the boulevards, it's set to take off. South of South Loop — Motor Row, Pilsen and that area going into Bridgeport. And west of the West Loop.